The 106th anniversary of birth of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be celebrated today.( The New Age BD )

Born on this day in 1899, which was Jyaishtha 11, 1306 of the Bangla calendar, in village Churulia in Burdwan in West Bengal, Nazrul through his writings had inspired the people to fight against injustice and repression of the colonial rule that earned him the title ‘rebel poet.’

Nazrul’s songs and poems were also a great source of inspiration for freedom fighters during the war of independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

His mother was Zaheda Khatun and his father Kazi Fakir Uddin Ahmed. He died on August 29, 1976, which was Bhadra 12, 1383 of the Bangla calendar.

After the independence war, Nazrul was brought to Bangladesh and was honoured as the national poet.

The government and other socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.

The programmes include placing flowers at the poet’s grave beside the Dhaka University central mosque, discussions, rallies and cultural functions.

The Bangla Academy has chalked out a two-day programme beginning with the recitation of his poems, rendering of his songs and discussions on the occasion.

The Nazrul Academy began a three-day Nazrul congregation at the National Theatre Complex at Segun Baghicha in the Dhaka city on Monday.

The president, Iajuddin Ahmed, the prime minister, Khaleda Zia, and the leader of the opposition in parliament, Sheikh Hasina, paid tributes in messages to Nazrul Islam.

In his message, Iajuddin said Nazrul was one of the pioneers in the field of Bangla language and literature and he was an extraordinary personality from the beginning of his life till the last day in practicing literature.

Khaleda Zia, in her message, said Nazrul Islam, a versatile poet, gave birth to an outstanding trend in the Bangla literature and played an active role in awakening the nation and flourishing the Bangla literature, journalism, songs and music.

In her message, Hasina said Nazrul Islam spoke against injustice, repression, superstition and communalism. ‘He is the poet of humanity, poet of the Bengalis and the poet of eternal beauty.’

His literary life began when he went to Karachi to join the British Army during World War I.

In his literary career of 22 years, he wrote innumerable poems and songs and many plays and novels. He also edited several periodicals. At least 51 of his books have been published so far.